Taiga:

Taiga: General Description The coldness and food shortages make living there very difficult especially in the winter. The soil is very thin and has very few nutrients. The taiga is also known as the Boreal forests.

Location: Largest Biome in the World. Stretches over Eurasia and North America. The taiga is located in northern areas of the world and near the tops of high mountains.

Climate: The average temperature is just below freezing for six months of the year. Have long, dry, cold winters and short warm summers. Average precipitation is about 35 – 75 cm. (14 – 30 in.) Average temperature is about 57°F to 14°F (14°C to -10°C)

Plants Not many plants can survive the extreme cold of the Taiga winter. Some lichens and mosses. Examples Pine White Spruce Hemlock Douglas Fir

Examples of Plants Mosses Lichens

Examples of Plants Pine Trees White Spruce Douglas Fir

Animals: Examples: Wolves Grizzly Bears Caribou (only in winter) Hawk owl Lynx

Examples of Animals:

Animal Adaptations: Hibernate or migrate Thicker fur, “winter” coats/summer coats Some move between the tundra or deciduous forests Some camouflage

Plant Adaptations: “evergreens” – shed snow easily, keep leaves in winter Some have waxy “needle-like” leaves that hold in water Seeds contained in cones